Several of the best players in the game are within striking distance of 36-hole leader Rory McIlroy. Dustin Johnson is in solo second, and six players are in a tie for third place: Sergio Garcia, Rickie Fowler, Ryan Moore, Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen, and George Coetzee. These players will have a golden opportunity to put pressure on Rory in the third round.

Fowler is headed for his third consecutive top-5 finish in a major after firing consecutive 69s. Rickie said, “All in all, a great start for the first two days. I definitely feel like I can improve on the first two days. I left a little bit out there. Today, I didn’t feel great with the putter. My eyes were a bit off, so I kind of scraped it around. Was able to make a few and get in with a good, solid round. So I’m excited for the weekend, see if we can get a few things ironed out, and keep moving forward.”

Sergio Garcia matched Fowler’s two round total of six-under with scores of 68-70. He knocked in a six-iron for eagle on the par-4 second hole, and also made a birdie at the last to get to the six-under mark. Every stroke counts in a major, especially when you are trailing the leader by six strokes.

El Niño has seven career top-10s at The Open, and spoke about what makes the championship so special. “I’ve always enjoyed these kind of courses. I’ve always enjoyed this kind of playing where you have to think outside the box when it plays like this.”

In the third round, Sergio and Rickie are playing together again. Ryan Moore will also be in the group.

Fowler said, “Sergio and I, we’ve become really good buddies, and we’ve played a lot together. We’ve been paired together numerous times over the past year, year and a half. So we’ve enjoyed playing together. It always seems like the two of us play well when we’re in the group.”

I’m sure they will both be happy to put on a show for the gallery during moving day.